Loyalty
Day – May 1st.
Scheduled over the weekend of May 1st
and 2nd. First observed in 1927 as
“Americanization Day,” this day has been
set aside for the reaffirmation of
loyalty to the United States and for the
recognition of the heritage of American
freedom. It’s a day little known
to most working Americans, but one that
should be celebrated openly as a
remembrance of our collective
responsibility to continue the legacy of
liberty handed down by our founding
fathers.

Memorial
Day – Last Monday in May.
This is a sacred to war veterans, on
which all Americans should reflect on
lives lost by their countrymen in
wartime. Personal moments to reflect on
such loss are appropriate for all.
Public displays of remembrance are
appreciated by veterans especially, such
as raising the U. S. flag to half mast
until noon, or inviting a veteran to
speak about their experiences at your
school or place of business. Memorial
Day should leave each of us with a
better appreciation for those who paid
the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Flag
Day – June 14th, 1777.
Flag Day is held to honor the United
States flag and commemorate the flag’s
adoption. Whether referred to as “The
Stars and Stripes” or “Old Glory” or by
many other names, this symbol of America
and our nation’s democratic ideals gets
a well deserved tribute by veterans.

Independence
Day – July 4th. The
birth of our nation sets the stage for
fireworks, picnics, parades and Mercer
Island’s own “Summer Celebration.” This
day recognizes the anniversary of the
publication of the declaration of
independence from Great Britain in 1776.
Patriotic displays and family events are
organized throughout the United States
and many people take the opportunity to
embrace all things red, white, and blue.
Mom, baseball, and apple pie tend to
take center stage as well, as this
classic celebration has deep roots in
the American tradition of political
freedom and the American ideal.

Patriot
Day – September 11th, 2001.
One of our nation’s newest and most
sorrowing days of remembrance. Where
were you on September 11th 2001? This
annual observance serves to remember
those who were injured or died during
the terrorist attacks in the United
States that day; whether in New York
City, at the Pentagon, or in the fields
of Pennsylvania. United States
government buildings worldwide fly the
flag at half-mast and a moment of
silence is observed at 8:46 am, Eastern
Standard Time marking the first
terrorist strike at the World Trade
Center that day. Patriot Day is uniquely
American as it represents our collective
memory of the day when our citizens,
police, firemen, servicemen and innocent
bystanders were attacked.

POW/MIA
Day – Third Friday in
September. This is the day our
black flag flies highest, for those who
have been prisoners of war (POW) or
remain missing in action (MIA) are not
to be forgotten. Many Americans take the
time to remember not only the POW/MIA,
but their family members and loved ones
as well. As for the black flag, all
military installations fly the National
League of Families’ POW/MIA flag, which
symbolizes the nation’s remembrance of
those who were imprisoned while serving
in conflicts and those who remain
missing.

Veterans
Day – November 11th.
This day is the anniversary of the
signing of the armistice, which ended
the World War I hostilities between the
Allied nations and Germany in 1918.
Veterans have since been thanked by
those in public office and communities
across the country for their services
and sacrifices in defense of the United
States. Today, Veterans Day is intended
to honor and thank all military
personnel who served the United States
in all wars, particularly living
veterans. It is marked by parades
and church services and in many places
the American flag is flown at half-mast.
A period of silence lasting two minutes
may be held at 11:00 am, Eastern
Standard Time.

Pearl
Harbor Day – December 7th,
1941. “A day that will live in infamy…”
as President Franklin D. Roosevelt
announced to a joint session of Congress
and the nation the day after the
Imperial Japanese Navy air attack on the
U. S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor,
Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. War in the
Pacific had finally come. Some of our
local veterans were personally impacted
by this event, due either to their
Japanese-American heritage or later
voluntary service in the Pacific or
European theaters of war.